Performing Arts   

Tashi O'Neill, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus 

I was lucky enough to be part of the 2025 school play Blood Brothers. As a member of the Unit 3/4 VCE Theatre Studies class, I worked in the production team, planning, developing, and bringing to life a set that completely captured the world of the play. 

I also had the incredible opportunity to perform on stage, taking on the role of Mrs Johnstone — the mother of the two boys at the heart of the story. Blood Brothers, written by Willy Russell, is a play and musical about twin brothers, Mickey and Edward, who are separated at birth and raised in drastically different social classes. It explores themes of nature versus nurture, social inequality, and the power of fate, following the brothers as they grow up, become friends, fall in love with the same girl, and ultimately meet a tragic end. 

Being part of this production has genuinely shaped me as a person over the past year. We began preparing in November 2024 and watched it all come together in June this year. It truly took my blood, sweat, and tears to make this happen, and in the process I learned lessons I will carry with me for years to come. It takes an incredible amount of dedication and hard work from an acting perspective, but also a creative side, to make a show like this happen. 

One thing about this show that makes it so beautiful is that the creative team and designers are all students from the Year 12 class, brought together by director Ms Fiona Atkin as the 3/4 Theatre Studies teacher. Knowing that this production came from the students makes it even more touching and real.  

I have always dreamed of being a performer, and to have this experience in Year 11 means the world to me. For myself — and for many of the other cast and crew members — this experience has been so much more than just a play. It was a chance to step into a world outside of ourselves, to experience a truly emotionally rich and complex story, showing us more about ourselves than we thought possible. 

Blood Brothers, while a significant challenge at times,was so much fun. I would do it all over again if I got the chance!  

Hugo Lethbridge, Year 10, Ridgeway Campus

On 14 August, Ivanhoe Grammar School hosted More Than Words, a concert dedicated entirely to the voice - the oldest, most human of all instruments. Across choirs, ensembles, and collective performances, the evening demonstrated not only musical excellence but also the deeper value of singing as a force for connection and community. 

The program opened with the youthful energy of the Buckley House Choir; a reminder of the joy and enthusiasm that singing inspires in its earliest stages. From there, the Locksley Singers carried the audience into a more mature sound world, where harmonies were carefully balanced and voices blended with poise and clarity. These ensembles revealed the remarkable breadth of Ivanhoe’s choral tradition, where each age group finds its place within the larger fabric of the School’s musical life. 

Moments of smaller group singing provided a striking contrast, offering intimacy alongside the grandeur of the choirs. Here, the audience was reminded of the courage that singing demands: the act of standing before others with nothing but the voice, unadorned and unaccompanied. These performances highlighted the vulnerability of the singer, but also the resilience that emerges when vulnerability is transformed into expression. 

The concert’s middle section featured performances from both the junior and senior campuses, a symbolic passing of the torch between generations. The Locksley Singers brought youthful optimism, while the Ridgeway Chorale offered a depth of interpretation and refinement that reflected years of practice and growth. This interplay of voices underscored the school’s strength not simply as a place of musical training, but as a community where students are encouraged to develop their individuality within a collective whole. 

The evening reached its conclusion with the sonorous tones of the Ridgeway Chorale, followed by a powerful Combined Item in which all voices joined together. This final act served as the perfect metaphor for the evening: many distinct voices, each with its own character and story, unified in a single sound greater than any individual contribution. 

What became clear throughout More Than Words is that singing matters. It cultivates confidence, demands discipline, and builds empathy. To sing in harmony is to listen as much as to project, to balance self-expression with community. In fostering such opportunities, Ivanhoe Grammar School demonstrates its strength not only as a school of academic rigour but as a place where the human spirit is nurtured through the shared act of making music. 

At its heart, More Than Words was more than a concert. It was a declaration that in an age of noise and distraction, the human voice remains the most powerful instrument of all - one that has the capacity to inspire, to connect, and to remind us of our shared humanity. 

Ethan Liddy, Year 12, Plenty Campus

In May 2025, I participated in my final instrumental showcase with Ivanhoe Grammar

 School. As a drummer of nearly 13 years, it was a privilege to close off the night by

 presenting my work and skills with a jazz piece that I have been practising for VCE in Year 12. Throughout the evening, the different groups, bands, soloists and pairs presenting their different styles and skills showcased to the broad audience what we, as high school students, can produce. It was a fantastic night of music and celebration! Having been involved in the Music Program at Ivanhoe since Year 7, I have been a part of nearly all things music – productions, assembly performances, the Plenty Orchestra, you name it. Getting the opportunity to perform in all of these has been an honour and an experience I will keep with me for a very long while. I am confident some of my best memories at Ivanhoe come from my time engaging with the Music Program. 

I congratulate everyone who performed on the night. You all played extremely well and should be very proud of yourselves! 

Jahnavi Srikantha, Year 11, Plenty Campus

Shortly after the instrumental showcase, Plenty Campus held another showcase for our vocalists to share their talents and hard work in developing their singing skills. It was an incredible experience to hear so many different voices perform a variety of songs from different genres such as pop, musical theatre and many more. The singers ranged from Year 7s learning the ropes of music at Ivanhoe to Year 12s honing their musical skills in VCE. 

On behalf of the music students, many thanks to the Music and Performing Arts staff for making this night so memorable: Ms Catania and Ms Middleditch for their work tutoring us and honing our skills, Ms Richardson for accompaniment, Ms Alexander for all her work behind the scenes, and Mr Bam for organising rehearsals and putting the whole showcase together. And of course, a huge congratulations to all the performers – you should be so proud of what we have put together this term.